Summit Health and WellSpan Health announced in April their intention to merge under a formal affiliation. The partners could be working together under the affiliation before the end of the year.

“The singular issue that has dominated my thought process, and time, has centered on our future and how to best position Summit Health for long-term success,” O’Donnell said. “The best position for Summit Health is a strong partner, which shares our strong values. That partner is WellSpan Health.”

The health care industry, specifically in central Pennsylvania, has never seen the magnitude of change and uncertainty as it has since 2013, he said. Summit Health has been one of the few organizations in the nation that could build value in the community as a smaller, independent health care system.

“What we do is too important for our community to not make the right decision at the right time,” O’Donnell said. “This decision aims to serve the future needs of our community.”

Annually in Pennsylvania, about 20 medical facilities a year over the past decade have changed their names, merged or closed, according to Pennsylvania Health Care Containment Council data.

Summit Health, Franklin County’s largest employer, has 3,600 employees. Most work at Chambersburg or Waynesboro hospitals. Summit Health also operates 33 outpatient specialty and primary-care practices, lab and imaging services, a fitness center and two walk-in care centers.

There are details to work out in the agreement before regulators take a look.

“Our team is diligently working with WellSpan to create a definitive agreement that best supports our mission, our employees and our long-term goals to continue to improve the health of our community,” O’Donnell said.

Once the agreement is drafted and approved by the Summit Health Board, federal and state regulatory officials will review it. The review typically takes a few months, according to O’Donnell.

“WellSpan has a long track record of investing and enhancing the local care in their previous affiliations with Gettysburg, Ephrata and Good Samaritan in Lebanon,” O’Donnell said.

Summit Health, based in Chambersburg, would be the junior partner in an affiliation. York-based WellSpan has nearly four times the amount of operating revenue and number of employees as Summit Health. WellSpan operates six hospitals, Summit Health two. Both are non-profit organizations.

As Summit becomes part of WellSpan, it will be appropriate eventually for local operations to take the WellSpan name, O’Donnell said at the time the affiliation was announced.

“This is not a merger, but the joining of two health systems by affiliation,” O’Donnell said.

An affiliation between medical groups typically means that no money changes hands and governance does not change.

For several years Summit Health has worked with WellSpan to provide local access to radiation oncology, neurology, tele-stroke, perinatology and other specialty services. They have collaborated in a regional reference laboratory, Central Pennsylvania Alliance Laboratory , and a behavioral health managed-care organization, Quest Behavioral Health.

The Summit Health Board and senior leadership chose WellSpan after a year of evaluating the rapidly changing health care landscape, future needs and investments and strategic options for Summit.

“WellSpan and Summit have enjoyed a multi-decade relationship working together with shared values and culture as well as a deep respect for each other,” O’Donnell said.

Health care officers have said the affiliation will:

Strengthen health care that is based on a person’s relationship with a primary care physician and coordinated for a lifetime.

Train and recruit more physicians and other providers to the community.

Invest in new services, facilities and technology.

Provide opportunities for value-based contracting to meet the needs of patients and payors.

“When our patients walk through our doors, we promise hope,” O’Donnell said. “That won't change. We are here for our community. This decision allows us to continue that. This is a new commitment and a promise of hope.”